May 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 13

Strike Back Against Lightning
NATA issues safety policy guidelines

ach year in the United States, more than 400 people are struck by lightning. On average, 42 of those strikes prove fatal. Of importance to park
and recreation professionals is that nearly half of these fatalities occur
during organized sports or recreational activities.
To help reduce these fatalities, the National Athletic Trainers' Association
(NATA) recently published a lightning safety position statement for coaches,
athletic trainers, parents, administrators and others involved in athletic or recreational activities.
" All individuals, particularly those
who are in charge of sports and recreational activities, should be aware
of the hazards, establish and follow appropriate guidelines, and ensure that those around them do so
as well, " says Katie Walsh, Ed.D.,
ATC, East Carolina University, who
chaired the position statement writing group for NATA.
The four NATA recommendations
are:

Establish a lightning-specific
emergency action plan for each
venue
NATA recommends that each venue
use a reliable means of monitoring
the local weather and have a clear
and understood decisionmaking
chain of command. In addition, each
venue should identify specific criteria
for suspending and resuming outdoor activities. The prevailing norm
is to suspend activities until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or
sound of thunder.

Prepare large-event protocols
In addition to your general lightning emergency action plan, NATA
recommends that venues establish
specific plans for large-scale events.
Some key items to consider include
evacuation routes, the time needed to
move a large crowd and the identification of safe shelters.

Provide first aid
During lightning storms, it is imperative that rescuers and emergency
personnel ensure their own safety before venturing out to provide aid. If a
situation arises, NATA recommends

that patients be moved to a safe location as soon as possible to avoid
further threats.
In addition to these safety guidelines,
NATA reminds park and recreation
personnel that the threat of lightning
from thunderstorms is particularly
prevalent from afternoon to early evening from late spring to early fall. According to published statistics, 90 percent of casualties occur during these
time frames, with July being the highest month of incidence. Geographically, the areas with the most lightning
activity are Florida, the Gulf states,
the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys,
the front range of the southern Rocky
Mountains and parts of the Southwest.
According to Walsh, " It is important to communicate to everyone involved in an outdoor activity that
safety comes first. There is no penalty or repercussion if they feel danger
is impending and prefer to seek a safe
location. "

Ensure lightning and general
weather awareness
This can be done by appointing a designated weather watcher or by subscribing to a commercial, real-time
lightning-detection service.

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May 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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